J. Electrochem. Sci. Eng. 6(2) (2016) 175-185; doi: 10.5599/jese.279
Open Access : : ISSN 1847-9286
www.jESE-online.org
Original scientific paper
Anticorrosive behaviour of lumefantrine hydrophobic layer on
mild steel surface
Pavithra M. Krishnegowda, Venkatesha T. Venkatarangaiah ,
Punith Kumar M. Krishnegowda*, Anantha N. Subba Rao, Shubha H. Nataraj
Department of Chemistry, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta-577451, Shimoga, Karnataka,
India
*Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, Karnataka,
India

Corresponding Author: drtvvenkatesha@yahoo.co.uk; Tel.: +91-9448855079
Received: March 22, 2016; Revised: May 17, 2016; Accepted: May 18, 2016
Abstract
The surface modification of mild steel was achieved by chemical treatment in
lumefantrine (LF) solution. The surface morphology and wettability of modified surface
was analysed by 3D profilometer and contact angle goniometer. The corrosion inhibition
performance of modified mild steel surface in 1.0 M HCl solution was investigated by
potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance techniques.Electrochemical measurements illustrate that the corrosion of mild steel in acidic chloride medium
get substantially reduced by introducing LF film on its surface (94 % efficiency). Quantum
chemical parameters were evaluated by ab initio method and they confer appropriate
theoretical support to the experimental findings.
Keywords
Acid solutions; Mild steel; Polarization; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy ;Acid corrosion
Introduction
The service life of metals can be improved by their surface modification using electroactive
compounds [1]. Organic molecules containing O, N, S and polar functional groups are the extensively used electro active compounds, owing to their strong adsorption tendency on the metal
surface. These electro active compounds form a thin film or molecular layers on the metal surface.
Traditionally, hetero aromatic compounds have been used for mild steel (MS) protection [2-7].
However, these compounds are harmful to the environment due to their toxicity. Therefore, it
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ANTICORROSIVE BEHAVIOUR OF LUMEFANTRINE ON MILD STEEL
becomes important to search for new, nontoxic and effective organic compounds to serve the
same purpose. In this regard, drugs are the promising alternatives, referred as green corrosion
inhibitors [8,9]. Drug molecules have been used for the corrosion inhibition of MS in different
corrosive media and remarkable results have been reported [10-14]. In the present work, the
antimalarial drug ‘Lumefantrine’ has been selected to protect the MS from corrosion in acidic
chloride medium.The MS was chemically treated with CHCl3 solution containing lumefantrine (LF)
and the corrosion behaviour of modified mild steel (MMS) surface was examined by
electrochemical techniques.
Experimental
Materials and sample preparation
The experiments were performed with MS specimens having composition 0.04 % C, 0.35 % Mn,
0.022 % P, 0.036 % S, and the remainder being Fe. The MS coupons of1 cm2 area (exposed) with a
5 cm long stem isolated with araldite resin were used for electrochemical measurements. Prior to
each experiment, the metal samples were abraded with series of emery papers (grade No. 220,
660 and 1200) followed by thorough wash using millipore water, acetone and then dried in hot air.
The aggressive solution of 1.0 M HCl was prepared from AR grade 37 % HCl and millipore water.
The millipore water was obtained from Elix 3 Milli-pore system (Resistivity greater than 18 MΩ cm
at 25 oC). Lumefantrine was obtained from Ramdev Chemicals India Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai and its
structure is as shown in Figure 1. The different concentrations of CHCl3 solutions of LF were
prepared by dissolving desired amount of LF in CHCl3. The MS coupons were dipped in 100 ml of
CHCl3 solutions of LF for about 1 hr to obtain MMS. After surface modification, the metal samples
were dried and stored in desiccator for further corrosion studies. The MS coupon modified in 3mM
LF solution was used for surface analyses.
Figure 1. Structure of lumefantrine
Contact angle measurement
An OCA 30 from DataPhysics Instruments GmbH, Germany was used to measure the contact
angles. The contact angle of water on the metal sample was measured by the sessile drop method.
A commercial goniometer was used with the volumes of water droplets fixed at 2 μL and the
measurements were performed at room temperature.Images of the Air/Liquid/Solid (A/L/S)
systems were captured and processed using the 32-bit SCA 20 software.
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J. Electrochem. Sci. Eng. 6(2) (2016) 175-185
Infrared spectra
An infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (GX spectrometer, Perkin Elmer, U.S.A.)
instrument outfitted with a liquid nitrogen cooled mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) detector was
used to take IR spectra. Before starting the experiments the sample and detector chambers were
purged with nitrogen gas. The reported IR spectra were obtained with reference to bare steel
substrate over 1024 optimized scans at 4 cm−1 resolution by using polarized beam spectra of
modified surface.
The surface morphology
The surface of MS samples was examined by Zeta-20 True Color 3D Optical Profiler (Zeta
Instruments, CA, U.S.A.). After the experiment, the metal samples were kept in a vacuum
desiccator and were mounted on sample holder under the objective of the Optical Profiler, and
the 2D photos were taken from the 50× magnified surface.
Quantum chemical studies
Quantum chemical calculations were performed using standard HyperChem, Release 8.0
software (Hypercube, Inc. GmBH Austria, USA). Geometrical structure of LF molecule was
optimized by parametric (PM3) method. The optimized structure which has minimum energy value
was used as the input structure for the geometrical optimization using ab initio method (Hartree–
Fock method, 6-31G** basis set). The Polak–Rieberre algorithm which is fast and accurate was
used for computation. The energy parameters in the form of root mean square gradient were kept
at 0.1 kcal/Å mol. 0.1 kcal/Å mol.
Electrochemical measurements
Electrochemical measurements were conducted in a conventional glass cell using CHI 660C
electrochemical analyzer (CH Instruments, Austin, TX, USA). MS specimen (1 cm2), a platinum
electrode and Ag/AgCl electrode were used as working, auxiliary, and reference electrodes
respectively. Prior to each electrochemical measurement, a stabilization period of 30 min was
allowed to establish a steady state open circuit potential (OCP). Each experiment was carried out
in triplicate and the average values of corrosion parameters are reported.
The potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) measurements were carried out over a potential range
of −200 mV to +200 mV at OCP with a scan rate of 0.5 mV s-1. The corrosion kinetic parameters
such as corrosion potential (Ecorr), corrosion current density (Icorr), and anodic (a), and cathodic
(c) Tafel slopes were evaluated by the software installed in the instrument.
The percentage inhibition efficiency ηT / %was computed from Icorr values using the following
expression;
I o corr  Icorr
T / % 
 100
I o corr
(1)
whereIocorrandIcorr are the corrosion current densities without and with inhibitor, respectively.
The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were carried at OCP in the
frequency range 1 mHz to 100 kHz with 5 mV sine wave as the excitation signal. Impedance data
were analyzed using ZSimp-Win 3.21 software.
The inhibition efficiency ηZ/ % was evaluated from charge transfer resistance (Rct) values using
the following equation
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ANTICORROSIVE BEHAVIOUR OF LUMEFANTRINE ON MILD STEEL
Rct  R o ct
Z / % 
 100
Rct
(2)
whereRoct and Rct are the charge transfer resistances without and with inhibitor, respectively.
Results and discussion
Morphology and contact angle measurement
The 3D profilometer images and contact angle of a water droplet (2 μL) on the naked MS
surface and MMS surface are presented in Figure 2. In general, low contact angle represents the
hydrophilic surface and high contact angle represents the hydrophobic surface [15-16]. In the
present study, the contact angle of the naked MS is 77.15 ° (Figure 2a) and that of LF covered MS
is 92.9 ° (Figure 2b). This indicate that the LF modified MS surface is more hydrophobic than the
bare MS surface. Moreover, the noticeable change in contact angle value on MMS may be due to
the formation of a well packed layer of LF molecules. The compact layer on MMS may be
attributable to the adsorption of differently oriented LF molecules on different sites of MS surface,
which affords a barrier effect against the diffusion of chloride ions [17]. On the other hand, the
surface of polished MS is comparatively rough and the smooth surface of MMS may be due to the
uniform coverage of LF molecules. Thus, the surface morphology and contact angle measurements
substantiates the formation of LF film on the MS surface.
Figure 2.Profilometer images and optical micrographs of a water dropleton
(a) the naked mild steeland (b) modified mild steel.
IR spectral analysis
The IR spectra were used to determine the presence of LF film on the modified MS surface and
are depicted in Figure 3.By comparing Figure 3a and 3b,it can be observed that certain peaks have
been disappeared completely and some have been shifted. Figure 3a shows the IR spectrum of LF
molecule. The characteristic bandat 3490 cm-1 and 1459 cm-1 wereattributed to stretching
vibration of the O-Hand aromatic C=C groups, 1151 cm–1corresponds to C-N bond, 2864 cm-1
corresponds to aromatic and 2953 cm-1 corresponds to aliphatic C-H stretching. Also the band at
874 cm-1 is attributed to C-Cl stretching. The IR spectrum of LF film on MMS is shown in Figure 3b.
In this spectrum, C-N stretching frequency is shifted to 1122 cm–1, and aromatic C=C stretching
frequency is shifted to 1409 cm-1. Furthermore, the O-H band at 3490 cm-1 gets disappeared in
Figure 3b. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that the adsorption of LF molecule on
MS surface takes place through C=C, O-H and C-N bonds and confirms the adsorption of LF
molecules on the MS surface.
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Figure 3. IR spectra of (a) LF powder and (b) LF film on the mild steel surface.
Quantum chemical Study
Quantum chemical calculations will provide information about the molecular structure of LF
molecule responsible for the formation of film on the MS surface.The quantum chemical calculations were carried out with the help of complete geometry optimization by ab initio method using
6-31G** basis set. The geometry of LF molecule was optimized by Hartree–Fock method and the
optimized structure, distribution of highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) and lowest
unoccupied molecular orbitals LUMO are shown in Figure 4. The calculated quantum chemical
parameters are presented in Table 1.
Table1. Quantum chemical parameters of LF
Quantum chemical parameters
EHOMO / eV
ELUMO / eV
∆E / eV
µ/D
Total energy, k cal mol-1
̶ 8.009
1.525
9.534
4.495
̶ 1670734.09
The spatial orbitals are distributed randomly on O, N and phenyl rings present in the molecule.
Moreover, LF molecule possesshigh dipole moment (µ) and the low energy gap (∆E) values which
indicate that electron transfer from LF to the surface takes place during the process of adsorption.
Conversely, the adsorption centers of organic molecules can be approximated by net atomic
charges in the molecule. The net atomic charges of some atoms present in LF molecule are given in
Table 2. The regions of highest electron density on organic molecule are the most plausible sites of
adsorption [18,19]. Therefore, N, O and some C atoms are the active centers, which have the
strongest ability to bond to the metal surface. Thus, oxygen atom, nitrogen atom and π electrons
in the phenyl ring are the main active sites of adsorption on MS surface. By reviewing these
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ANTICORROSIVE BEHAVIOUR OF LUMEFANTRINE ON MILD STEEL
findings, it can be deduced that LF forms a compact film by the process of adsorption on the
surface of MS. As a result, the above experimental findings of IR spectral analysis are in good
agreement with the quantum chemical results.
Figure 4.(a) Optimized structure, (b) distribution ofHOMOand (c) distribution ofLUMO of LF molecule.
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Table 2.List of atoms having highest electron density in LF molecule.
Atom
Charge
C (2)
C (3)
C (5)
C (18)
Cl (21)
Cl (22)
Cl (23)
O(25)
N (27)
C (29)
C (30)
C (31)
C (33)
C (34)
C (35)
-0.013
-0.026
-0.026
-0.025
-0.116
-0.116
-0.116
-0.386
-0.301
-0.041
-0.055
-0.065
-0.041
-0.055
-0.065
Potentiodynamicpolarisation measurements
Electrochemical analyses were performed to investigate the kinetics of electrode processes as
well as the surface characteristics of the electrochemical system. The potentiodynamic polarization curves in 1M HCl for the naked MS and MMS in different concentrations of LF solutions are
given in Figure 5. The electrochemical corrosion parameters such as corrosion potential (Ecorr),
corrosion current density (Icorr) , anodic tafel slope (a), cathodic tafel slope (c) and inhibition
efficiency (ηT/ %) are tabulated in Table 3 .
It is apparent from Figure 5 that increasing the LF concentration reduces both the cathodic and
anodic current densities and the Ecorr get slightly shifted towards the anodic direction. Moreover,
the decrease in both the anodic and cathodic current densities enumerated that the LF film
formed on the MMS surface suppressed both the anodic and cathodic reactions [20]. This
phenomenon may be due to the adsorption of the LF molecules, which in turn decreased the
attack of chloride ions on the MS surface.
Table 3.Polarization parameters in 1 M HCl for the bare mild steel and modified mild steel
in different concentrations of LF solutions.
c/mM
0.00
0.50
0.75
1.00
3.00
5.00
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̶ Ecorr/ mV
449
376
370
373
365
364
̶ c/ mV dec-1
106.46
157.28
148.77
142.07
154.30
143.97
a / mV dec-1
84.38
64.71
71.03
63.38
60.75
56.27
Icorr/ µA cm-2
257.5
43.67
30.89
17.41
14.58
19.15
ηT/ %
83
88
93
94
92
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ANTICORROSIVE BEHAVIOUR OF LUMEFANTRINE ON MILD STEEL
Figure 5. Potentiodynamic polarization curves in 1 M HCl for the naked mild steel
and mild steel modified inpresence of different concentrations of LF.
It is apparent from the Table 3 that with increasing concentration of LF, Icorr values lowered to
its minimum value at 3 mM and the ηT reached the maximum value 94 %. This implies that the film
formed on the MS becomes denser with increase in LF concentration from 0.5 to 3 mM. But the ηT
value decreases when the LF concentration is 5 mM. This may be due to the fact that the LF
molecules get rearranged on the MS surface after the number of adsorbed molecules reaches a
maximum value [21]. This makes easy for the acidic chloride ions to attack the MS surface through
the interspaces. Furthermore, the values of a and c change with increase in inhibitor concentration and it indicates that the film inhibits both the anodic and cathodic reactions. By reviewing
all these results it can be considered that the LF layer acts as a good protective film.
Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy measurements
The Nyquist and Bode plots of the bare MS and LF covered MS in 1M HCl are given in Figure 6.
For the naked MS, the impedance data were analyzed by the electrochemical equivalent circuit
shown in the inset of Figure 6a. In this circuit, Rs represents the solution resistance, R1 is the
charge transfer resistance corresponding to the corrosion reaction at the MS/solution interface,
and CPE1 represents the constant phase element (CPE) as a substitute for the double-layer
capacitance (Cdl). The impedance of CPE is defined as
ZCPE = Q-1(j)-n
(3)
where Q is the CPE constant, ω is the angular frequency, j2= −1 is the imaginary number and n is
the CPE exponent which gives details about the degree of surface inhomogeneity resulting from
surface roughness, inhibitor adsorption, porous layer formation etc.
For the bare MS, the Nyquist plot is the slightly depressed capacitive loop (Figure 6a) which
indicates the roughness and other inhomogeneity of the MS surface [22]. The Nyquist and bode
plots for MMS in different concentration of LF solutions were fitted by the equivalent circuit
shown in Figure 7(a). Rs, R1, and CPE1 have the same meaning of elements in Figure 7a. In addition,
R2 represents the membrane resistance, which reflects the protective property of the film and
CPE2 is the capacitance of the film formed on MS [23-24]. The obtained impedance data are
tabulated in Table 4.
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Figure 6. (a) Nyquist plot and (b) Bode plot of naked MS in 1 M HCl
Figure 7. EIS results in 1 M HCl for LF covered mild steel modified in differentconcentration of
LF solutions: (a) Nyquist plots; (b) Bode plots
Table 4.Impedance parameters in 1 M HCl for the naked mild steel and mild steel modified in
presence of different concentrations of LF solutions.
2
c/ mM
R1/ Ω cm Q1/ μΩ-1 Sn cm-2
n1
R2/ Ω cm2 Q2/ μΩ-1 Sn cm-2
n2
ηz/ %
0.00
64.14
56.26
0.856
---0.50
303.5
109.4
0.733
21.1
19.38
0.999 79
0.75
499.3
51.68
0.829
24.95
17.16
0.954 87
1.00
1136
34.93
0.730
98.02
64.51
0.921 94
3.00
1292
37.84
0.815
61.75
11.20
0.946 95
5.00
950.2
59.65
0.761
41.58
33.71
0.883 93
It is apparent from Figure 7a that, the diameter of the capacitive loop increased to its maximum
when the concentration of LF solution was 3 mM, implying that the compact film is formed on the
surface of MS in this concentration. Bode plot shows two overlapped phase maxima, indicating the
model of two time constants and the Z modulus increases with the increase of LF concentration
within 3 mM, suggesting that a dense film formed on the MS exhibit better protection efficiency. It
is evident that the diameter of the capacitive loop and the logarithm of Z modulus decreases when
the concentration of LF is 5 mM.The inhibition efficiency calculated from R1 also increases with
increase in LF concentration, and reaches maximum (95 %) at 3 mM concentration. This may be
due to the hydrophobic film of LF molecules on MS surface which inhibited the dissolution
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ANTICORROSIVE BEHAVIOUR OF LUMEFANTRINE ON MILD STEEL
reactions of MS to a greater extent in 1 M HCl. The variation in R1 values imply that the corrosion
reaction on the MS surface was inhibited by the absorbed inhibitor film.
Surface morphology
Morphologies of metal samples were analysed by the true color images obtained from 3D
profilometer. The true color images of bare MS and MMS immersed in 1M HCl is shown in
Figure 8. The surface of bare MS is completely damaged with large number of pits due to the
attack of aggressive chloride ions. But MMS retains smoother surface owing to the presence of LF
film which inhibits the process of corrosion in acidic chloride medium. Hence it can be concluded
that, the film formed by the adsorption of LF molecules behaves as a barrier and retards MS
corrosion in HCl media.
Figure 8.Profilometer images of (a) the naked mild steel and (b) modified mild steel after
immersion in 1 M HCl for 1 h.
Conclusion
The contact angle and IR analyses indicate the presence of LF molecules on mild steel surface.
The quantum chemical study reveals that the O, N and π electrons in the LF molecule are the main
active sites for adsorption. The chemical treatment of MS for about 1 h leads to the formation of
compact film of LF molecules and hampers acid corrosion. The LF film inhibits anodic and cathodic
reactions of MS in 1 M HCl. The electrochemical studies and profilometer images confirmed the
MS corrosion inhibition ability of LF molecules in acidic chloride solution.
Acknowledgement: The authors are grateful to the authorities of Department of Chemistry,
Kuvempu University, Karnataka, India for providing lab facilities. Authors also thank Department of
Science and Technology, New Delhi, Govt. of India [DST: Project Sanction No. 100/IFD/1924/20082009 dated 2.07.2008] for providing instrumental facilities. The authors are also gratified to
University Grant Commission, New Delhi, Govt. of India [UGC grant Ref. 41-231/2012(SR) dated
16.07.2012] for providing HyperChem software facility.
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